chauncey the flower care bot with clue and bonsai buckaroo · 2020. 3. 25. · assemble the bonsai...

Chauncey the Flower Care Bot with CLUE and BonsaiBuckaroo

Created by John Park

Last updated on 2020-03-25 07:46:07 PM UTC

Overview

Chauncey is a Wrylon Robotical (https://adafru.it/JOf) Flower Care Robot designed by BarryMcWilliams (https://adafru.it/JOA) and built by John Park. Due to certain regrettable events, full-scale production of theFLORABOT 3L-1G model, a.k.a. Chauncey, ceased in 1913. However, do not despair -- you can build your own fullyfunctional, 3D-printed Chauncey.

Mk. I plans for building Chauncey were published in the excellent 3D Printing Projects (https://adafru.it/JOc) book fromMaker Media.

Now, this updated Mk. II Chauncey can be created using a CLUE microcontroller board running CircuitPython and theBonsai Buckaroo add-on board to sense soil moisture levels and water your flower or plant using a small, submersiblepump.

© Adafruit Industries https://learn.adafruit.com/chauncey-flower-watering-bot-clue Page 3 of 32

http://www.barrymcw.com/wrylon

http://www.barrymcw.com/

https://www.makershed.com/products/make-3d-printing-projects

https://www.adafruit.com/product/4500







Parts

Your browser does not support the video tag. Adafruit CLUE - nRF52840 Express with Bluetooth LE

OUT OF STOCK

Out Of Stock

Adafruit Bonsai Buckaroo - micro:bit & CLUE Plant CareHelper

$4.95IN STOCK

Add To Cart






Submersible 3V DC Water Pump - Horizontal Type

$1.95IN STOCK

Add To Cart

Tubing for Submersible Pumps - PVC 8mm ID - 1 MeterLong

OUT OF STOCK

Out Of Stock

Small Alligator Clip Test Lead (set of 6)

$2.95IN STOCK

Add To Cart

USB A/Micro Cable - 2m

$4.95IN STOCK

Add To Cart










Materials & Tools

In addition to the parts above, you'll also need:

A 3D printer or have it printed by a 3D printing service2 ea. galvanized nailsA small glass jarCA glue (a.k.a. "super glue")A handheld rotary tool

Optional:

Acrylic craft paint & brushesAcrylic paint spray sealer

PLA Filament for 3D Printers - 1.75mm Diameter - Blue - 1KG

$44.95IN STOCK

Add To Cart




Code the CLUE

In order to code the gardner, first follow these instructions (https://adafru.it/JOb) on getting CircuitPython and thenecessary libraries installed on your CLUE board.

Once you've gotten the board set up, click Download: Project Zip below in the code guide. From the .zip file dragthe two .bmp images to your CLUE's CIRCUITPY drive via USB.

Then, copy the code from the code-block below and paste it into the Mu editor and save it to your CLUE as code.py (orcopy code.py from the zip file and place on the CIRCUITPY drive).

Your CLUE's CIRCUITPY drive should look like

this.

Temporarily unable to load content:


https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-bonsai-buckaroo/clue-and-circuitpython-usage

https://learn.adafruit.com/assets/89613

Assemble the BonsaiBuckaroo

Wiring up your Bonsai Buckaroo

For this project, you'll need a Bonsai Buckaroo, a CLUE, a water pump, some tubing, alligator clips, and two nails (orsomething else conductive will work too!). It's super simple to connect them up.

Here are the basic steps -- you can then use the photos

below for more detail.

Mount the Bonsai Buckaroo to the CLUE using the

included mounting hardware.

Connect the red wire of the water pump to the top

of the motor controller terminal.

Connect the black wire of the water pump to the

bottom of the motor controller terminal.

Connect an alligator clip to the 3V pad on the

Bonsai Buckaroo.

Connect an alligator clip to the PIN#1 pad of the

Bonsai Buckaroo.

Connect the other end of the alligator clip wires to

nails stuck into the soil of your plant.

Connect the tubing to the water pump

Place the other end of the tubing in the soil of the

plant.



FastenFirst, use the included screws to fasten the CLUE board

to the Bonsai Buckaroo.

WireThe Bonsai Buckaroo has a motor driver built in to run

the DC pump.

To wire it, place the red wire in the top terminal and the

black wire in the bottom one.





Push down the tabs with a screwdriver as you insert

each wire to get a solid connection.





TubingPress fit the tubing onto the pump outlet.

For and extra secure connection, you can use a zip tie

like a hose clamp. Pull it tight and trim off the excess.





ProbesTo make the soil moisture probes, simple clip one end

of each lead to a nail.

Push the nails deep into your flower pot soil.

You will then connect the other ends to 3V and Pin 1

connections on the Bonsai Buckaroo.

Pump and Water

Now, to use the watering feature of the project, you'll need a container of water into which you can you submerse thepump.

Make sure the tubing is positioned over the flower pot and then turn it on.

If the soil is moist, you'll see a happy plant graphic and the percentage displayed.




When the soil becomes dry over time, the display will show the percentage reading, and if it gets below 50%, the dryplant graphic will be shown, the motor will start pumping, and the buzzer will sound until the moisture level is backabove 50%.


Build Chauncey the Flower CareBot

Model Files

Download the model files from the link below. You'll need to open the .stl model files into your slicer of choice (I usedCura) and prep them for printing. In general, a 0.4mm nozzle with 0.2mm layer height and 10% infill works well forthese parts.


https://adafru.it/JOd

https://adafru.it/JOd

Print and Assemble the Legs and FeetPrint three copies of the fBot_foot.stl file.

You can pick specific filament colors, or if you want to

paint them later, color won't matter, so you have a

chance to use up some colors you don't always use!

Big Creations from Small Printers

Chauncey’s parts have been carefully designed to print on a small desktop 3D printer with a build area of roughly 6″x6″x6″. The assembled final robot is much larger than one that could be printed in a single pass on most printers.

�


https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4238141



Print three each of the lower socket fBot_lowSocket.stl,

and upper leg fBot_legBend.stl.

Assemble the legs by pushing the lower sockets into the

tops of the feet, and the bends into the lower sockets.




Print the BodyIn order to create a body larger than the build platform

of many printers, Chauncey’s body is printed in four

sections and later assembled.

Print one copy of the fBot_bodyFL.stl, fBot_bodyFR.stl,

fBot_bodyBL.stl, and fBot_bodyBR.stl files.

(In the photo, you will note that the front left body

section is blue and white, due to a mid-print filament

switch.)




Before joining the body parts, print the three leg sockets

- fBot_legSocketCenter.stl, fBot_legSocketLeft.stl, and

fBot_legSocketRight.stl, and the eye tube

fBot_eyeTube.stl.




Assemble the BodyIn order to assemble the body parts, we’ll use a dual-

bonding technique of gluing and friction welding.

The glue creates a bond to hold the parts together

temporarily, but it’s the friction welding that creates the

real strength, since the friction-heated PLA plastic bonds

the parts together. This method also has the benefit of

filling in any gaps between parts.

To begin assembling the body, place a small amount of

superglue on the clean surface of one of the two parts

to be joined.

Press the parts together for 30 seconds as shown here.

Follow the directions on the superglue container as to safety. Wear eye protection and do not touch glue to skin.�




Friction-Welding TechniqueChuck the free end of a PLA filament spool into your

rotary tool and tighten the chuck. Then use diagonal

end cutters to snip off the PLA filament—leaving about

1/2″ of filament protruding from the tip.

Turn the rotary tool up to a 25,000–30,000 RPM

setting. Moving in small circles, push the filament tip into

the seam or gap you wish to weld, moving back and

forth and overlapping across to both sides of the seam.

Press hard enough that you see the PLA melt a bit as it

heats up. Note the small circles in the plastic seam.

The filament bit will get used up as you work. Turn off the tool, waiting for it to stop spinning. Loosen the rotary toolchuck, pull out another 1/2″ length, re-tighten, and turn the tool back on to continue welding. Repeat this until you haveto refill the tool with a new length of PLA from the spool.

Welds can take 10 to 20 seconds to fully cool. You can take advantage of this by adjusting the fit of some parts whilethe weld is still warm.

Assemble the Leg Sockets and Eye TubeOnce the body welds are made, glue the center leg

socket to the back right panel. The glue will help with

holding the pieces in place when you later friction-weld

the seams.

Let this part dry, then fit and glue the back right and

back left body quarters to the socket. Once these have

Use eye protection to avoid injury from flying plastic bits!�




dried you’ll use the friction-welding technique to

permanently bond the parts as shown.

Proceed in this manner, gluing and welding the left leg

socket to the front left body quarter, and the right leg

socket to the front right body quarter.

These two quarters will be closed around the eye tube

before gluing and welding. Some small tack welds will

be enough to keep the eye tube in place.





Add the EyePrint the fBot_iris.stl and fBot_pupil.stl parts and then fit

the iris into the eye tube from the back, and the pupil

into the iris from the front.



Deck RimThe top of the ‘Bot has a deck rim running all the way

around it to hold the deck in place. Print four copies

of fBot_rim.stl, then glue and weld them to the top of

the ‘Bot’s body.

If there are any gaps between sections, these can be

filled in with friction welds, for that time-worn, hard-

working robot look!




RailingsPrint four copies of the safety railing model,

fBot_railing.stl, and then join them together with a bit of

glue.

The railing goes on top of the deck rim; you can glue it

on before or after painting, or not glue it down at all.




StovepipePrint the two parts of the stovepipe, and then glue them

together.

Once dry, push the stovepipe assembly into the port

hole in the body to check the fit.

We’ll be priming and painting it separately, then

reinserting it later.




Test Fit the LegsThe legs of the ‘Bot can be placed into the sockets

without permanently adhering them, just to check the fit.

We’ll assemble it again later after priming and painting.

PrimingIf you haven’t printed your parts in their final colors, this

is a good time to paint the robot.

Use a fine, white spray primer, such as Tamiya model

primer or automotive primer. Follow the directions on

the can and prime in a well-ventilated area.

Let the first coat dry, and prime with a second coat for

best coverage.

PaintingYou can then use acrylic craft paint and brushes to paint

the robot in your favorite color scheme—even using

techniques such as ink washes and dry-brushing

highlights.





There are many good resources on the internet on

painting models, so we won’t go into too many details

here.

The basic technique used here was to start with a few

coats of a base color, and then add a darker wash later

to add some patina.





Seal ItOnce the Flower ‘Bot is painted and has dried, glue the

stovepipe in place.

Then seal the paint with a matte finish spray sealer to

prevent the paint from chipping.

Deck BuildThis updated Mk. II version of Chauncey has a different

deck design than the Mk. I -- this one allows for different

sized pots to be set into it, and does not require access

for below-deck components. The CLUE, water vessel,

and pump will all remain above deck.

Print the fBot_deck.stl file. You can optionally paint it at

this point (I decided to leave this one its natural 3D

filament color.)

Pump CupTo keep the pump secured, we'll print the

fBot_pump_cup.stl

It has notches built into the bottom to hold the pump in





place. Since 3D printed cups can be difficult to make

perfectly water tight (any gaps will be found by water!)

this short cup is made to be placed inside a larger

vessel, such as a medium sized glass jar.





SetupThis is where it all comes together! First, set the deck

onto the top of the 'Bot.

Place the pump you prepared earlier with the tubing and

optional zip tie, into the pump cup.

Set the pump cup inside the glass jar, and fill with water.

Place your flower pot in one of the deck holes. It's best

to use a closed bottomed pot so no leaking will occur.

As before, the motor and probes should be connected

to the Bonsai Buckaroo, with the probe nails embedded

in the soil.

Power on the CLUE using USB or battery power.



chauncey the flower care bot with clue and bonsai buckaroo · 2020. 3. 25. · assemble the bonsai...

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